IT was in pleasant Derbyshire, Upon a bright spring day, From a valley to a valley I sought to find a way; And I met a little lad, A lad both blithe and bold; And his eyes were of the blue, And his hair was of the gold. "Ho! little lad, of yonder point The name come quickly tell!" Then, prompt as any echo, Came the answer: -- "Tap o' th' hill." "But has it any other name That a man may say -- as thus -- @3Kinderscout@1, or @3Fairbrook Naze?@1" Then said the child, with constant gaze: -- "@3Tap o' th' hill@1 it gets with us." "Yes, yes!" I said, "but has it not Some other name as well? Its own, you know?" "Aye, aye!" he said, "Tap o' th' hill! tap o' th' hill!" "But your father, now? how calls it he?" Then clear as is a bell Rang out the merry laugh: -- "Of course, He calls it @3Tap o' th' hill!@1" So I saw it was no use; But I said within myself: -- "He has a wholesome doctrine, This cheerful little elf." And O, the weary knowledge! And O, the hearts that swell! And O, the blessed limit -- "Tap o' th' hill! tap o' th' hill!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BROKEN PITCHER by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN COUNTER-ATTACK by SIEGFRIED SASSOON EYE-SHAPED, MOUTH-SHAPED by MARGARET AHO RELEASE by GLADYS NAOMI ARNOLD THE ELDER WOMAN'S SONG: 1, FR. KING LEAR'S WIFE by GORDON BOTTOMLEY THE SHEPHERD'S PIPE: SEVENTH ECLOGUE by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) THE SHEPHERD'S PIPE: THIRD ECLOGUE by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |